Kirkcaldy High School

Infobox School2
name = Kirkcaldy High School


motto = "Usque conabor"
I will try my utmost
established = 1852
type = Secondary
locale =
grades =
head_name = Headteacher
head = Shena Archibald
head_name2 =
head2 =
city = Kirkcaldy
state = Fife
country = Scotland
students = 1,200 (approx.)
faculty =
teaching_staff = 90 (approx.)
athletics =
school_colors = Green, Red, Purple, Blue (Correspond to Houses)
school_tie_colours = Yellow Black
mascot =
free_label =
free =
website = http://www.fife-education.org.uk/kirkcaldyhs/

Kirkcaldy High School is a non-denominational comprehensive state school in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.

History of Kirkcaldy High School

The school was established in 1852 as Kirkcaldy Burgh School. The school's motto is "Usque conabor", which literally translates to "I shall try to the utmost". An alternative motto "Working Together to Improve", is also the name of an initiative that has been running for four years between Kirkcaldy High School and St. Andrews University for 3rd year pupils. It will not be running this session.

Until 1994, the school was geographically split into the Junior and Senior Buildings, about a half-mile apart. S1 and S2 were in the Junior building (formerly Templehall Secondary Modern School until its merger with KHS in the 1970s), the remainder in the Senior Building (opened October 1958).

Among many achievements, Kirkcaldy High school was awarded the "school of ambition" Prize in 2007. The fund would help raise standards in teaching and learning.

Gordon Brown (current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and current Leader of the Labour Party) attended Kirkcaldy High School and became equal Dux boy, alongside J. Sharp, a history teacher at Kirkcaldy High School until summer 2007, before going to University in Edinburgh.

In 2008, after an inspection the school was "branded one of Scotland's worst schools." [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3868166.ece Gordon Brown's old school 'must do better' - Times Online ] ]

Facilities and Community Use

Kirkcaldy High School offers many extra curricular activities and has a community use consisting of a wide range of activities and classes. This makes use of the many sports facilities that Kirkcaldy High School has including;

* 2 gymnasiums

* Sports/games hall

* Fitness room

* Table Tennis Room

* Squash Court

* Tennis Court

* Playing fields

* Astroturf

chool Departments

Department of English-Principal Teacher: I. MacIntyre

Department of Mathematics-Principal Teacher: S. Hamilton

Department of Social Sciences (History, Modern Studies and Geography) -Principal Teacher (C): C. Meek

Department of Business Studies (Administration, Business Management and Accounting)-Principal Teacher: Y. Nelson

Department of Computing -Principal Teacher: Mr Jackman Department of Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)-Principal Teacher: Mr Dick

Department of Expressive Arts (Art and Design, Music and Drama)-Principal Teacher (C): T. Turnbull

Department of Physical Education-Principal Teacher: M. Stewart

Department of Religious and Moral Education, Latin and Classics-Principal Teacher: J. Shearer

Department of Modern Languages-Principal Teacher: I. Murie

Department of Technology (Technological Studies, Craft and Design, Graphic Communication and Product Design)-Principal Teacher: G. Morrice

chool Curriculum Levels

1st and 2nd year pupils, in the main part, continue with the 5-14 curriculum. In 3rd and 4th year the school curriculum levels are split into Standard Grade (Foundation, General & Credit) and Higher Still (Intermediate 1 & Intermediate 2). However in 2008, as a pilot, students sat standard grade mathematics in their 3rd year. The results were welcomed as a vast majority achieved above expected resultsFact|date=August 2008. The students will study higher maths course over two years (4th and 5th), if they achieved a credit grade, and will sit higher maths alongside other highers in 5th year. This enables pupils to, if they choose, study a two year higher maths course and still sit advanced higher in 6th year. In 5th and 6th year pupils can sit subjects in the Higher Still curriculum (Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Higher & Advanced Higher).

chool Shows

Kirkcaldy High School takes it in turns with Balwearie High School to run a musical show in June. In 2007, KHS performed the hit musical "Grease". The show had audiences filling the auditorium to its maximum every night. The next school show, Guys and Dolls, will take place in 2009.

House System

The pupils of Kirkcaldy High School (KHS) are separated into four different houses. Each house has an allocated house head, one of the depute rectors (Mrs Kerr - Adam Smith; Mrs Diamond - Beveridge; Mr Duffy - Carlyle and Mrs Aitken - Oswald). Additionally the guidance system is organised according to the house pupils are in. These houses are named after famous persons of the town.The Houses are:

*Oswald - Named after a famous Kirkcaldy Family. They built the town house in 1905.
*Beveridge - Named after Sir Michael Beveridge, a local businessman who donated a park and library to the town.
*Adam Smith - Named after the famous economist who wrote "The Wealth of Nations"
*Carlyle - Named after Thomas Carlyle an academic who was headteacher of the school, aged 21.

Command Structure

*Rector - Sheena Archibald (Acting)*
*Senior Depute Rector - A Pryde (Acting)*
*Depute Rector - J Kerr
*Depute Rector - T Duffy
*Depute Rector - A Diamond
*Depute Rector - H Gill
*Depute Rector - D Aitken

Rector Lindsay Roy took Leave Of Absence to stand as the Labour candidate for the upcoming Glenrothes by election. For the time being the post of Rector has been taken on by Mrs S Archibald (previously Senior Depute) and thus Senior Depute has been taken on by Mr A Pryde (Previously PT of the Technical Department).

Notable Alumni

*Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Labour Party
*Murray Elder, Baron Elder, peer and former adviser to Donald Dewar
*Archie Howie, physicist
*Tony Hughes, novelist.
*Val McDermid, novelist

*Richard Park, broadcaster
*John Grahl, economist

50th Anniversary Celebrations

In the year 2008, Kirkcaldy High School is celebrating its 50th anniversary on the current site at Dunnikier Way. Events planned to mark this milestone are set to run over four days in September 2008. During this time, the school building will be open to the public for tours and family fun events.

The art and English departments have been working to produce many displays show the changes in Kirkcaldy High School over the past 50 years.

References

External links

* [http://www.fife-education.org.uk/kirkcaldyhs/ Official school site]
* [http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/kirkcaldyhs Kirkcaldy High School on FifeDirect]
* [http://www.aboutkirkcaldy.com About Kirkcaldy]
* [http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scottishschoolsonline/schools/kirkcaldyhighschoolfife.asp Kirkcaldy High School's page on Scottish Schools Online]